Medical image processing apparatus

A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

• region setting circuitry configured to set a non-distorted feature region on a plurality of captured image volume data captured in time series;
• a feature region interpolation data generator configured to shift a position of a center of gravity of the feature region and shift the feature region by linear alignment based on the position of the center of gravity shifted so as to suppress a change in shape of the feature region that occurs with time, thereby performing interpolation with respect to the feature region to generate feature region interpolation data;
• a non-feature region interpolation data generator configured to shift other regions than the feature region by nonlinear alignment such that a change in shape of the other regions occurs, thereby performing interpolation with respect to the other regions to generate non-feature region interpolation data;
• a synthetic interpolation data generator configured to generate synthetic interpolation data by three-dimensionally synthesizing the feature region interpolation data and the non-feature region interpolation data;
• and
• an image generator configured to generate a three-dimensional time-varying image formed of three-dimensional images sequenced in time series, by using the synthetic interpolation data and the plurality of captured image volume data, wherein
• the feature region interpolation data generator shifts a position of a center of gravity of the feature region by nonlinear alignment and shifts the feature region in itself by linear alignment to thereby generate the feature region interpolation data.

A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

• target range decision circuitry configured to determine a target range as an object of processing from a plurality of captured image volume data captured in time series;
• and
• an image generator configured to generate a three-dimensional time-varying image formed of three-dimensional images sequenced in time series, by interpolating new volume data between the captured image volume data in the target range, wherein
• the image generator is configured to
• extract a non-distorted feature region in the captured image volume data in the target range,
• shift a position of a center of gravity of the feature region and shift the feature region by linear alignment based on the position of the center of gravity shifted, so as to suppress a change in shape of the feature region that occurs with time, thereby performing interpolation with respect to the feature region to generate first region interpolation data,
• shift other regions than the feature region by nonlinear alignment such that a change in shape of the other regions occurs, thereby performing interpolation with respect to the other regions to generate second region interpolation data, and
• synthesize the first region interpolation data and the second region interpolation data to generate interpolation volume data.